The “cool kids” in middle school may be more vulnerable to problems with relationships and drugs in adulthood than the well, “not cool kids”.
At 22, the cool kids are less competent with managing relationships and are involved in more criminal activity and substance abuse than typical kids.
“Acting old for your age” in middle school is a better predictor of drug problems in adulthood than is actual drug use in middle school.
If young teens try to make friends by acting cool, basically playing a role, they end up being less skilled socially because they don’t learn healthy ways of interacting.
They need to “up the ante” to impress their friends, so their behavior becomes more extreme prompting them to do drugs or commit crimes.
If your kid is legitimately cool for their personal strengths, don’t worry. If your child is willing to do whatever it takes to be popular, get help.
Claudia
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